Lagosians will not be upstaged at a wedding. Any member of the bridal party, any family member or any guest would take their appearanc...

21.3.16

GENDER & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BILL

This is she.

The woman who stood for women and proposed the Gender & Equal Opportunity bill to her peers in the Nigerian Senate.

The bill, titled “Gender Parity and Prohibition of Violence against
Women”, was presented by this lovely lady after my heart, Senator (Mrs.) Abiodun Olujinmi.

The bill seeks equal rights for women in marriage, education and the workplace. Truth be told, I cannot believe this subject is even up for debate in 2016. How can we still be requesting our Senate to pass a bill allowing a widow in Nigeria to automatically become the custodian of her children in the event of the
death of her husband?

The bill didn't go through.

Apparently, several men believe women having equal rights and opportunities goes against the sensibilities of some religious and cultural spheres.

It's crazy.

Thankfully, a significant voice in the Continent shares a different sentiment -

"Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance."

- Kofi Annan

And just in case pop culture floats your boat better, Beyonce has been quoted as saying:

"We have to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect so that as they grow up gender equality becomes a natural way of life. And we have to teach our girls that they can reach as high as humanly possible."

The above philosophy is not the general consensus in Nigeria, sadly.

Irrespective of this, I have hope for this country.

Senator Olujinmi gives me hope. A lot of a lot of a lot of hope.

She is a great woman who was able to use her first opportunity to speak on a very worthy cause.

She's a woman who's been able to bring renewedvigor into a previously fledgling topic.

She's been able to mark her name in gold for encouraging discourse on (hopefully) lasting change.